St. James's Palace.
"This renowned seat of the English Court was founded on the site of a leper's hospital, said to be of
pre-Conquest origin, and afterwards a possession of Eton College. In 1532 Henry VIII. obtained
it, with the park, by exchange, and built a palace, of which the embattled red-brick clock tower
and gateway still remain. It was the residence of the Heir to the Throne until the burning of
Whitehall in 1698 caused the Court to remove hither, and it then became the official residence,
in town, of the Sovereign. Charles II., James II., Mary II., and the " Old Pretender " were
born in St James's Palace ; Queen Victoria was married there ; but in her reign it was used by the
Sovereign only for State functions."
Extract from "The royal palaces, historic castles and stately homes of Great Britain" (Open Library)
St. James's Palace is not open to the general public.
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